Pharmacists Salary
The median pay for a pharmacists in Wisconsin is $148,740/year ($71.51/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $112K at the entry level to $178K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $157,680 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 13.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $149K get you in Wisconsin?
About pharmacists
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Pharmacists pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $149K locally vs. $141K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,202/month, 13.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level pharmacists (10th percentile) start around $112K. Mid-career wages sit at $149K. Top earners bring in $178K or more, a $66K spread from bottom to top.
Pharmacists salary by metro in Wisconsin
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $159K | +7% | 210 |
| Madison | $158K | +6% | 1,120 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $153K | +3% | 1,760 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $150K | +1% | 150 |
| Eau Claire | $150K | +1% | 180 |
| Wausau | $149K | +0% | 130 |
| Appleton | $145K | -3% | 190 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $144K | -3% | 130 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $144K | -3% | 120 |
| Fond du Lac | $142K | -4% | 70 |
| Sheboygan | $142K | -5% | 70 |
| Green Bay | $141K | -5% | 300 |
| Kenosha | $139K | -6% | 140 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a pharmacist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $149K, rent takes 13.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for pharmacists in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new pharmacists typically earn — is $112K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,721/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 18% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is pharmacist a high-paying job in Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $149K locally vs. $141K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for pharmacists?
Wisconsin pays $149K median vs. the U.S. average of $141K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $158K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do pharmacists make in Wisconsin?
The median is $148,740 a year, that works out to about $72 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $112,020, and experienced pharmacists can clear $178,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $149K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,798/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 13.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a pharmacists salary go in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median pharmacists salary is worth about $157,680 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do pharmacists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.